Hydraulic brake control for bicycles



Jan. 27, 1942.

H. L. MUELLER HYDRAULIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR BICYCLES Filed May 1,8. l940 A[lill/1111""- INVENTOR. HOMER L. M UELLER ATTORNEYS IEr.

Patented Jan. 27, 1942 STATES FFICE v 2,271,273" HYDRAULIC BRAKEcoN'rRoL For.

, BICYCLES y vHomer L. ll/Iuellert Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to TheCleveland Welding Company', Cleveland, Ohio, a corl'atoi of Ohi'd-Allp'lcttto May I8, 194.0, 'Serial N02 335,923

2 Claims.

ThisL invention relates indicated to ny'- draulic brake control meansfor bicycles and the like and.Y more particularly to such control meansadapted to be operated by rotation of a handle on the handle-bar of thebicycle.

A novel type of hydraulic brake adapted for y use in bicycles and thelike is disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 323,773, ledMarch 13, 1940, together with a means of operating such brake. Thepresent inventionI is concerned with handle control means wherebyhydraulic brakes of the type disclosed in said c'o-pending application,for example, may be operated, one embodiment of such means being soformed that all working parts are self-contained and out of the way.

It is, therefore,'a primary object of this invention to providehydraulic brake control means for bicycles and the like operable bysimple manipulation of the usual grip or handle mounted on thehandle-bar.

Another object of this invention is to provide such control means theworking parts of which willA be self-contained and unobtrusive.

A further object of this invention is to prothe means hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexted drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple oi the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a handle and portion ofbicycle handle-bar illustrating one embodiment of my new invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the reciprocable cylinder illustratedA insection within the handle in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 1 but showing such handle andcylinder moved inwardly relatively to the end of such handle-bar;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a rear fork member and axle of a bicycleillustrating the disposition of the pressure tubing leading to thehydraulic brake;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view' taken along the; line 6;-'6 on Fig. 5'; and

Figl. 7 is as'omewhat diagrammatic View of a bicycle v'ernpllznyiri'gthe hydraulic' brake vand control means of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing, and especially Figs. 1to 4, one embodiment of my invention may comprise a handle-bar I havingan enlarged extension 2 in which-a cylinder 3 is sleeved. One end ofsuch cylinder is open to receive thrust vblock or piston 4 which makes atight i'lt therein, a further seal being provided by packing ring 5 inpiston cup B. The other end of such cylinder opens into passage 'I whichis closed at its outer end by ller plug 8. A rubber handle or gripmember 9 may be slipped over such cylinder and frictionally heldthereon, the inner end of such grip being enlarged to overlie extension2 of the handle-bar. The wall of cylinder 3 beyond the head of piston 4is slotted to provide spiral cam tracks I0 and II. Pins I2 and I3respectively pass through said slots, their ends being fxedly positionedin said extension 2 and said piston or thrust block 4. A copper fluidpressure line I4 passes longitudinally through said piston tocommunicate with chamber I5 formed in cylinder 3 by said piston, thecopper tubing forming a tight seal, being firmly attached to the pistonas by brazing.

It will now be seen that upon rotation of handle 9, thereby likewiserotating cylinder 3, such cylinder will be drawn inwardly by the actionof said pins and spiral cam tracks (see Fig. 3) causing relativemovement yof said piston and cylinder with a resultant diminution ofchamber I5. If such chamber has been lled with hydraulic fluid it isobvious that a portion of such iiuid will be discharged therefrom by wayof line I4. Upon rotation of the handle in the opposite directioncylinder 3 will be caused to move outwardly again and chamber I5 toregain its former dimensions.

Line I4 may continue within the handle-bar to within a few inches of thestem of the bicycle at which point it may connect with flexible pressuretubing I6 which enters the tank I I and there connects with furthercopper tubing I8 which follows down underneath a rear fork member I9 andenters the rear axle 20 through fitting 2I. The manner in which thebrake 22 is operated by the hydraulic impulse is fully described in myabove-identied application.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a novel i hydraulic brakecontrol means has been provided vwhich is entirely self-contained andoperable by simple manipulation of the usual grip or handle mounted onthe handle-bar. As a result it is unnecessary for the operator to shifthis hands from the steering means or to take his eye from the road inorder to operate the brakes. 'Ihe embodiment of this device illustratedin the annexed drawing constitutes a preferred form of my novel controlmeans, the piston and cylinder assembly being mounted axially of thehandle-bar whereby the outlet from the hydraulic cylinder may be carriedwithin the handle-bar and the entire control means constructed withinthe handle-bar and handle.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingYclaims orthe equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out'and distinctly claim as my invention:c

1. Hydraulic brake control means for bicycles and thelike, comprising ahandlebar, a piston xedly mounted in said handlebar, an outlet passingthrough said piston, a hydraulic cylinder adapted to fit said piston andform therewith a fluid-tight chamber, a spiral cam slot in an extensionof said cylinder, and a pin fixed in said handlebar and piston andpassing through said slot whereby said cylinder will be caused toreciprocate relatively to said piston upon rotation thereof to dischargeand draw in hydraulic iluid. 2. Hydraulic brake control means forbicycles and the like, comprising a handlebar, a piston fixedly securedto the end of said handlebar, a closed .end cylinder telescopicallyengaging said piston in close sliding t engagement, and defining aclosed fluid tight chamber between the end of said piston and the bottomof said cylinder, 'cam means interconnecting said cylinder and saidhandlebar whereby relative rotation therebetween causes relative axialmovement between said piston and cylinder, and a conduit, for carryingfluid to the brake to be controlled, extending axially through saidpiston and in communication with said closed chamber.. Y HOMERL.MUELLER.

